Osimhen’s Absence a Major Blow for Super Eagles Ahead of Russia Friendly — Kaita!

Former Nigeria international Sani Kaita says Victor Osimhen’s absence will be a major loss for the Super Eagles when Nigeria face Russia in an international friendly next month.

Osimhen is currently recovering from a muscle injury that forced him out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed that the Galatasaray striker would miss the September qualifiers as he continues his rehabilitation.

Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s meeting with Russia, Kaita acknowledged the importance of the 27-year-old forward but said the Super Eagles still have other quality attacking players capable of contributing in his absence.

“Osimhen’s absence is a huge loss for our team,” Kaita said, while noting that Nigeria have other high-level players and several attacking options available to the coaching staff.

Nigeria are scheduled to face Russia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on October 6, 2026. The fixture will be the second meeting between both national teams in 16 months, following their 1-1 draw in Moscow in June 2025.

Head coach Éric Chelle has already named a separate squad for the Russia friendly, following the Super Eagles’ 2027 AFCON qualifying assignments. The selection is expected to provide opportunities for other players, including some less-established members of the national team, while allowing the coaching staff to assess additional options.

Osimhen remains one of Nigeria’s leading attacking figures. CAF records show that he has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for the Super Eagles since making his international debut in 2017. His absence therefore leaves Nigeria without one of their most experienced and productive attacking options.

Kaita, however, stressed that Nigeria still possess enough attacking quality to compete without the Galatasaray forward. His assessment reflects the wider challenge facing Chelle as he manages player availability while preparing the team for both competitive fixtures and international friendlies.

The Russia encounter will also give Nigeria an opportunity to assess the depth of the squad ahead of future international assignments. Several established players have been reported as unavailable for the October fixture, making the game an important opportunity for other members of the Super Eagles setup.

Kaita has a strong connection with Russian football, having played for Russian clubs including Kuban Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Moscow and Alania Vladikavkaz during his professional career. He also welcomed the continued football relationship between Nigeria and Russia.

For the Super Eagles, the immediate focus remains on their AFCON qualifying campaign before attention turns to the October friendly. Whether Osimhen will recover in time for the Russia encounter will depend on the progress of his rehabilitation and his return to club action.

Former Nigeria international Sani Kaita says Victor Osimhen’s absence is a major loss for the Super Eagles ahead of Nigeria’s October friendly against Russia.